How To Wing Foil. Do you need foot straps? Are they helping or just in the way? We'll find out!

[@fincalacruz952]

Great video, thanks! My first board is a 5"10 (110 liter) F one rocket, no footstraps. Standing and balancing was quite easy because I used to windsurf when I was a kid (40 years ago) but the biggest frustration was that I could never get this setup on foil... I was using a 85cm mast and 1280 F one phantom foil... After a lot of months on the ocean surfing back and forth, someone borrowed me a F one gravity 1800 foil, and like magic, I was flying, and my body imediately addapted to that new balance. So whatever you do, start out with a huge foil and then downsize when you get the hang of it!

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Yes, that is a such an important lesson for everyone that starts out. To compensate lack of technique with large material until you’ve got the basics right.

[@bluejuice57]

Well done Fred, you have explained everything positively. I learnt the hard way with straps from the beginning of my foil journey back in 2020. I wouldn’t be without them as they do have great benefits for micro on foil adjustments. Thanks Fred Shared with with (Wingfoiling Ocean bound UK) 🙏🤙

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Hey bluejuice57, thank you kindly! 🤗 I hope you learning with them wasn’t too bad. I guess for most experienced riders the straps is a part of the gear. For what they add to the riding. Thanks for sharing my video, appreciate it! You ride in the UK, I presume?

[@wildhogget69]

Great point Fredric, being an ex-windsurfer and using straps, i found learning wing foiling without them strange, but necessary to allow foot movement. But once at a certain level, I feel they are required for more control and recovery during sticky situations, But I always go for three as for me the rear is important as to stop you causing injury to front foot. It's like snowboarding with only one foot in the binding, destined for a torn ACL. You will love riding fully locked in! By the way just waiting to test my HPS1050 with the Progressive 425 rear 🤪 If we had some wind!!!!

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Hey Dan, Thank you! Well, you as a new rider but with previous experience makes sense that you put them on from start. Interesting view about the third strap. Like I said I will give the third one a try. After your input, I'll do it earlier ;-) To learn what it brings to the riding. Strangely, I as a Snowboard rider for over 20 years don't have that thought about the injury in Wing Foil...But point taken! No wind...poor you. Here we are out every day riding in the nice and warm thermic winds. Come here and join us?

[@wildhogget69]

@@wingfoil_mallorca 🤣 you need to share some of that wind and allow it to come through to the Coasta Daurada 🙏

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

@@wildhogget69Damn, youre only 20 km away but it's like another world. We are fortunate with the thermic winds. Best plays to be is in the sea when it's this warm....

[@chrrissss]

Another great video Until 2 days ago I was struggling to stay up on the foil, I tried a friend’s board that had straps and a slightly greater front wing span I stepped straight into the straps and like magic I’ve been flying all weekend I wouldn’t go back to no straps again as my feet are in the perfect position but at the very start of learning I’d say they are more in the way. Keep up the good work.

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Thank you Chris! Appreciate you leaving a comment. The bigger front wing was the trick. And it was well placed on the board I relation to the straps. That’s what a well diales in equipment is like. Happy to hear you got it. The sensation up on foil is second to none. Where are you riding?

[@chrrissss]

@@wingfoil_mallorca I sail off Mersea island in Essex Uk, it certainly is a great feeling being up on foil, I have a 90cm mast and most the time I’m pretty high up which is good for riding through all the chop , I might even try a gybe next weekend! My windsurfing gear at the moment has been confined to my shed ! Great channel keep up the good work.

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Hey, LoL. Yeah happens to many windsurfers and kiters these days! You ride in a good spot as I see it. Should be good wind, quite open so I get the choppy part. Any waves? You’re going to get addicted riding them with the wing on your side. I’m just saying….;-) Good luck with the gybes. Take some time for the brain to get all the moments, but you’ll get there. If I could, anyone can! 😜 Good stuff! Let me know how it went down. Stay safe!

[@ianfellingham6495]

Hi Fred I’ve been trying to foil now for a while and maybe after 17 hours on the water I started to come up on foil. After maybe another 4 hours I was getting short flights but very hit and miss. So someone on the beach said try front straps. I did and for me it’s been a game changer. It took a little while to get my foil set correctly but now I find it much easier because I know my front feet are in the right place so I don’t need to worry about them and I just move my rear foot around to trim. So for me it had been useful to use the straps although I’m not gybing yet. My next goal will be to gybe. I’ve have just started to do gentle s shapes and find the straps help. I did use to use straps when windsurfing many years ago. Just my experience not saying I’m right. Thanks for the videos. Ian

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Hi Ian. Great story. If they helped you then that's great. Say no more...As the straps helps you to "hold on" you get an increased control riding. That is my impressions as well. Well, go get those gybes and let me know when you get your first! That one is always a great feeling. If you stay in fakie after the gybe your chances of coming through all the way increases. But, in my riding, staying in fakie is a huge trade off in power and efficiency. So I went through the process of learning to switch feet. And I am so happy I did as it improved my riding very much. Good luck!

[@PhilipWinfield-wsurf]

Thank you for the video. If you do an update with the back strap could you talk about positioning the straps in relation to the foil. Enjoyed your video and also seeing the location. The last time I was in Puerto Pollenca there was no such thing as wingfoiling. Just shows how long ago it was since I was there.

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

You’re welcome! Noted about the update! Next time you get here you can enjoy Mallorca on water as well. So bring your gear…🤙

[@andylitespeed]

Hi Fredrick, good video. I agree with everything you have said. My two cents worth. How do you know you are ready for foot straps? Try them, or at least front ones, see if you like them! In my case it was the 4th time I tried them that I thought for sure I am happier with than without! I think on balance, you should have mastered gybes first. There comes a time with the foot switch where having straps to aim for is worthwhile. Interestingly I can think of circumstances where it is better to take them off again. If, like me, you switch out foils and even fueselages (of different lengths) it is way better without! I was out in 5-8 knots an hour ago: for my 75kg I was using an 8m CWC F-One wing and swapped my usual Axis ART 1099 on an ultra short black fueselage for the 1300 PNG on a short (i.e. longer) red fuesealge. It took less than 30 seconds to feel where my feet would go and was no problem strapless. I could then concentrate on getting on foil and staying on foil through the gybes with out being distracted by thoughts about my straps not being in the right place! Of course you could take the time to dial in all the strap locations for possible equipment combinations! Maybe I will one day. Interesting aside - I now use the 350 Progressive stabilizer with all front foils and prefer it. Keep the videos coming!

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Hey Andrew, thanks for the input. I think you are ready for foot straps when you have a good control of your board, and can do jibes and tacks. Also, when you feel the urge to try them out, that's important to as it requires some testing to dial them in. 😃 But I agree with you fully regarding changes in the equipment. You really need to know where to put your straps if you change your gear or take them off. I ride the 1099 as well and have an 1150 for low wind days and it's not great to use the same position for the straps. I solve it by putting the 1150 all the way in front. Strangely, the lift from the 1099, when I have the mast in the same position for both, about a finger back from the front. The 1099's lift is actually stronger than the 1150's?? You use the progressive 350? Hmm, I am looking for a change of rear wing for testing. Will check that one out! Thanks..

[@chucktrier]

Again great video! Little wing best intro music ever for a Wing surf video. Maybe Hendrix had some great surfing skills :-) ( know it’s not the Hendrix version ). Do you play a lot ? You have a lot of guitars hanging around.

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Thank you Peter! Yeah, who doesn't love JH?? Yes, my second passion after wing foil is playing guiar. But I'm a returning player after many years with career and kids. Now I have more time to play, still wishinig I had even more..;-)

[@chucktrier]

@@wingfoil_mallorca Awesome, for me it is the other way around. But I expect wing foiling is going to be a great contender.. We are going to Mallorca tomorrow and I am planning to take some sessions if the weather allows it at PuraVida.

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

@@chucktrier Cool,man! Yes, I must warn you. Wing Foiling is very addictive! Nice that you are coming here, if we go up north this weekend or next. I'll write you and maybe we can have a coffe or have great ride together! ;-)

[@chucktrier]

@@wingfoil_mallorca or maybe I will head on south and coffee’s on me. But I am totally newbee, just bought my gear and only had two times on the water. But man it is great. Good karma 🙏

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Let me know! 🤙

[@waterbaby299]

On your axis board on the video the straps are set too tight. You should adjust your straps so the foot goes in until your little toe protrudes fully out the front. The top of the strap should be right over the bridge of your foot

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Hey Jungle Jeff. Ok, interesting. I'll have a go at that and I'll find out if it is to any advantage. I guess the control of the board increases when you can get your foot in further, right?

[@waterbaby299]

@@wingfoil_mallorca yes that's right and it's safer, your foot can rotate and easier to abort

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Check! Strap adjusted. I’ll go in tomorrow and test them. Thanks for the tip! 🙏🏼

[@waterbaby299]

Great videos btw! I learn something new everyday winging but that strap tip is from my windsurf background 🤙

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

@@waterbaby299 Thanks. Nothing beats experience! 🙂

[@mindebrolis9582]

In the duration of all intro you could have already answer the question man 🙈

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Could have, but what’s the fun in that? 😇😂

[@mindebrolis9582]

@@wingfoil_mallorca just providing you some feedback. If you are interested in your channel’s growth, it might be helpful. Who knows. Good luck!

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Thank you, I appreciate that! Where do you ride?

[@mindebrolis9582]

@@wingfoil_mallorca Cold Denmark :)

[@adolpho4366]

✨ p͎r͎o͎m͎o͎s͎m͎

[@wingfoil_mallorca]

Yeah!